Return to Buckskin Gulch

A few years ago, Bill and I “discovered” (for ourselves, that is) Buckskin Gulch, the longest slot canyon in the southwest, or the world, or some such thing, depending on your source. It’s just north of the Arizona/Utah border in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument (http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/natmon/vermilion.html) and is both spectacular and easy to access. Exploring the canyon thrilled me and I longed to return. In fact, OutdoorX4 Magazine will be publishing my story, “Calculating Adventure,” about our first visit there in an upcoming issue (OutdoorX4.com)

Traveling north last month from the Overland Expo in Flagstaff, Arizona with Bill, and our friends Chris and Laura Moxley, we had camped at Coyote Loco in the Kaibab National Forest and hiked in the Grand Canyon. The night before our Buckskin Gulch hike, we camped in Vermilion Cliffs, not far from the Wire Pass Trailhead for the Gulch. Our first surprise on the morning of the hike was the number of people in the canyon. I had remembered the 1.7 mile hike from the trailhead through Wire Pass Canyon to Buckskin Gulch as an easy walk with only a few scrambles over boulders. But things had changed a bit over the past couple of years and the floor of the canyon seemed lower and was much wetter. Hikers were struggling to get over the drops into the canyon and reluctant to get their feet wet. Several spots in the canyon became jammed with people, several of whom ultimately turned back. We forged ahead and eventually made it through Wire Pass and to the alcove near the confluence with Buckskin Gulch.

The rains had changed the Gulch as well, and we faced numerous deep, muddy puddles. Ultimately, the only thing to do was to wade in, boots and all, and so we did. It was slow going but fun. When we decided we had gone far enough (and thunder was beginning to rumble above us), we enjoyed a picnic lunch and turned back. It definitely wasn’t the same experience I had before at Buckskin Gulch — much more difficult — but I am so glad we were able to introduce our friends to one of my favorite places!